high noon

the exact moment of noon.

the high point of a stage or period; peak; pinnacle: a book written at the high noon of his career.

Informal. a crisis or confrontation.

Origin of high noon

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

There stood his sisters by the quern, For the high-noon cakes they needs must earn.

Poems by the Way |William Morris
It was now high-noon, and I had eaten nothing since dinner the night before.

Dead Men Tell No Tales |E. W. Hornung
Thorbiorn came there about high-noon; alone he was, and rode up to the outer door; the door was locked, and no men were abroad.

The Story of Grettir The Strong |Translated by Eirikr Magnusson and William Morris
If there had been, a fellow couldn't be advertising her to the crew of an oil-tanker at high-noon, could he?

Wide Courses |James Brendan Connolly

It was high-noon when the ship once more issued into the broad bosom of the Pacific.

Afloat And Ashore |James Fenimore Cooper